Sunday, January 26, 2014

January 26,1864-U.S. Minister to France William L. Drayton expresses concern over the presence of several Confederate vessels in French waters and France's inability to act against them.January 26,1864-Confederate General James Longstreet's forces are dislodged from Russellville, Tennessee by Union cavalry commanded by General Samuel Sturgis, part of the IX Corps of General John G. Parke, currently at Knoxville. Confederate cavalry under the command of General William T. Martin then drives General Sturgis back toward Seiverville, Tennessee.January 27,1864-General Braxton Bragg, suffering health problems, is summoned to Richmond for conference with President Davis as long as his health permits.January 27,1864-Continuous skirmishing between General Sturgis' Union cavalry and General William Martin's Confederate cavalry results in Confederate troop losses of 200 and Union losses of about 65 killed, captured, wounded, or missing. Union troops also capture two cannons.January 28,1864-In an effort to secure forage for their horses and cattle for beef to feed the Confederate Army, General Jubel Early dispatched Generals Edward Thomas and Thomas Rossiter, (Infantry and Cavalry commanders), to raid Union positions around New Market, Virginia.January 28,1864-General George Stoneman is assigned to lead XXII Corps and General John M. Schofield is promoted to command the Department of the Ohio.January 28,1864-The skirmishing in Tennessee continues with General William Martin's forces being defeated near Fair Gardens, Tennessee by Union General Sturgis. Confederate General Bushrod R. Johnson's infantry then drives General Sturgis' back to Seiverville, Tennessee and General Martin moves back to Fair Gardens.January 29,1864-Confederate raiders led by Generals Thomas and Rossiter successfully overtake a Union wagon train, capturing 80 men, 1,200 head of cattle, 500 sheep, and 95 wagons. The 12th Virginia Cavalry and the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry arrive in support of Thomas and Rossiter to complete this raid.January 30,1864-General Rossiter continues his raid, moving from Medley, Virginia to Petersburg where he takes additional Union supplies, including ammunition.January 30,1864-At Mattoon, Illinois, men of the 54th Illinois kill a Democrat who refuses to take the Oath of Loyalty.January 30,1864-William Rosecrans becomes the commander of the Department of the Missouri.January 31,1864-President Lincoln again urges General Nathaniel Banks to institute civilian authority in New Orleans. General William T. Sherman instructs General Banks to cooperate fully with Admiral David Porter as he prepares for the upcoming Red River Campaign in Louisiana.January 31 & February 1,1864-A Confederate Army move to New Bern, North Carolina is coordinated by General George Pickett. Pickett leads about 13,000 troops in three Brigades of General Robert Hoke's Division. He has 14 cannons, the off shore assistance of Commander John T. Woods' fleet, and cavalry support. Pickett attacks the Union force of General Innis N. Palmer, inflicting 326 casualties, and driving the Union troops back through New Bern. Two Confederate columns led by General Seth Barton and Colonel James Dearing judge the Union Forces to be too formidable and delay further advance.February 1,1864-President Lincoln authorizes a draft of 500,000 men for three years service or the duration of the rebellion.February 1,1864-With a possible promotion for General Ulysses S. Grant in mind, the U.S. House of Representatives creates the rank of lieutenant general, U.S. Army.February 1,1864-General W.T.Sherman starts to consolidate his army to Meridian, Mississippi by ordering General William Sooy Smith to arrive in Meridian no later than April 10th.

Monday, January 20, 2014

January 19,1864-Arkansas, a Confederate State with slaves but also many Union sympathizers, approves a new anti-slavery constitution.January 19,1864-Navy Secretary Gideon Wells alerts Admiral Porter to warn all Union boat crews to the possibility of "coal torpedoes", cast iron replicas of coal chunks filled with black powder and powerful enough to explode a boiler.January 20,1864-General Frederick Steele, District of Arkansas commander is instructed to schedule free elections to form a free civilian government in Arkansas. President Lincoln issues the order.January 20,1864-Federal warships begin routine patrols at the mouth of Mobile Bay, Alabama.January 21,1864-At Nashville, Tennessee, Pro-Union citizens gather to urge a constitutional convention to abolish slavery.January 22,1864-In the parts of Arkansas that are free from slavery, Isaac Murphy becomes governor by vote of the free-state convention.January 22,1864-Recently disgraced General William Rosecrans is picked to replace General John M. Schofield as commander of the Federal Department of Missouri. The command change actually will occur on January 30,1864.January 23,1864-President Lincoln's policy directing all plantation owners to recognize the freedom of former slaves and hire them under rules of contract law is distributed.January 25,1864-Fort Sumter comes under Union bombardment yet again.January 25,1864-In an effort to improve the defense in middle Tennessee, Federal troops abandon Corinth, Mississippi and consolidate.

Monday, January 13, 2014

January 12,1864-The USS Yankee, Currituck, Anacosta, Tulip, and Jacob Bell make up a squadron in support of Union General Gilman Marston as his cavalry moves between the Rapphannock and Potomac Rivers, Virginia.January 13,1864-Louisiana and Florida begin to re-establish "civil authority and free government" under the direction of General Nathaniel P. Banks and General Quincy A. Gilmore, at President Lincoln's direction.January 13,1864-President Jefferson Davis advises General Joseph Johnston to maintain his strong position at Dalton, Georgia. He especially warns Johnston to 'not fall back' by stating "I trust you will not deem it necessary to adopt such a measure."January 14,1864-The Confederate raider CSS Alabama under Captain Raphael Semmes captures and burns the Union vessel 'Emma Jane' off the coast of Malabar, India.January 15,1864-The British Blockade Runner 'Minnie' is captured by the USS Beauregard off Mosquito Inlet, Florida.January 16,1864-General James Longstreet's I Corps defeats the Union forces of General Samual D. Sturgis at Dandridge, Virginia.January 17,1864-The Union IX Corps at Knoxville, Tennessee is placed under command of General Orlando B. Wilcox. He replaces General Robert B Potter.January 18,1864-Admiral Davis G. Farragut aboard his flagship 'Hartford' arrives at Mobile Bay, Alabama. He inspects the Confederate defenses and expresses concern that the CSS Tennessee steam ram could be a problem. He lays plans to destroy it.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

January 5,1864-A petition to allow African American citizens to vote is circulated in New Orleans. More than 1,000 signatures were gathered, mostly free blacks but some War of 1812 veterans. The petition was sent to President Lincoln.January 5,1864-Federal troops, supported by Apache warriors, kill or capture a few hostile Navaho along the Pecos River in New Mexico Territory.January 6,1864-General Joseph Reynolds takes command of the federal forces in New Orleans.January 6,1864-General James H. Carleton, Commander of the New Mexico Territory, pleads to the Indian Department for clothing and supplies for the many Navaho prisoners suffering in the cold. Most of the prisoners were rounded up by Colonial Christopher "Kit" Carson's campaign in the Canon de Chelly region of the wild New Mexico Territory.January 7,1864-With mounting Union Army desertions, President Lincoln commutes most death sentences for deserters stating "I am trying to evade the butchering business, lately."January 7,1864-At Warrenton, Virginia, Major John Mosby's Cavalry routs a large Union force, taking 30 prisoners and 40 horses.January 8,2864-General John H. Morgan is honored in Richmond, Virginia for his raid through southern Indiana and Ohio and his recent escape from the Ohio State Penitentiary.January 9,1864-Command of the II Corps, Army of the Potomac is assumed by General Gouverneur K. Warren.January 9,1864-U.S. Consul at Le Harve, France, James A. Putnam advises Captain John Winslow that Confederate's from the CSS Georgia, CSS Florida, and CSS Rappahannock plan to attack his USS Kearsarge as she leaves the port at Brest.January 11,1864-Missouri Senator John B. Henderson proposes a joint resolution to the United States Congress to abolish slavery. This is the foundation of the wording of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.